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WATER RESOURCES DEPARTMENT

DIVISION 215

MAINTENANCE, REPAIR AND DEEPENING OF WATER SUPPLY WELLS

690-215-0005

Prevention of Groundwater Contamination, Health Hazard, and Waste

(1) The landowner of the property on which the water supply well is constructed is ultimately responsible for the maintenance and use of the water supply well. All water supply wells should be disinfected following the installation of pumping equipment. Refer to OAR 690-210-0380, Appendix 2 for recommendations on well disinfection.

(2) The landowner shall maintain all water supply wells in a condition where they are not a health threat, a health hazard, a source of contamination or a source of waste of the ground water resource by allowing loss of artesian pressure or commingling of aquifers. A pitless adapter may be attached to the casing to transmit water from the well into the delivery pipeline. The pitless adapter shall be installed in such a manner as to prevent the contamination of the ground water resource. The landowner is responsible to assure that the space between the side of the well borehole and the well casing is sealed as required by OAR 690-215-0025.

(3) If, in the opinion of the Director, a water supply well is a health threat, a health hazard, a source of contamination, or a source of waste of the ground water resource, the Director may order discontinuance of, or impose conditions upon, the use of the water supply well. In addition, the Director may order that the well be repaired or permanently abandoned in accordance with OAR chapter 690, divisions 215 and 220 of the Standards for Construction and Maintenance of Water Supply Wells in the State of Oregon.

(1) Well alterations as defined in OAR 690-200-0050(7) shall be performed by a licensed Water Supply Well Constructor, or a landowner with a Landowner’s Well Construction Permit and bond.

(2) Water Supply Well Constructors or a permitted and bonded landowner shall record the following data, if available, on the Water Supply Well Report as required under OAR 690-205-0210 before completing alteration work on a well:

(a) Pre-alteration static water level and date taken.

(b) Pre-alteration casing diameter.

(c) Pre-alteration casing gauge.

(d) Pre-alteration well depth.

(e) Pre-alteration seal material.

(3) Well alteration work shall be completed in accordance with OAR 690-215. The Water Supply Well Constructor shall only be responsible for the alteration work they performed under OAR 690-215.

Maintenance of an Existing Well Following Construction of Replacement Well

Any time a new water supply well is constructed to replace an existing well which is a source of contamination, or is wasting the ground water resource by allowing loss of artesian pressure or commingling of aquifers, the existing well shall be repaired in compliance with these rules or abandoned in accordance with OAR 690-220-0030 through 690-220-0140.

Within the boundaries of their own property, property owners are responsible for maintaining the applicable minimum setback distances for any well on their property. Refer to OAR 690-210-0030 for current minimum setback distances.

Down Well Continuous Water Treatment and Back-Siphon Prevention Devices

(1) If a chemical is used to treat well water, it shall not be allowed to come into contact with the inside of the well casing. Down well treatment of well water will only be allowed if a commercial water treatment system is used. Delivery pipes or tubes designed for use with the treatment chemicals shall be used to place the chemicals into the water in the well. This rule does not apply when disinfecting the well and the pumping equipment.

(2) In no event shall agricultural pesticides and fertilizers be allowed to enter a well.

(3) Back-siphon prevention equipment shall be installed on any irrigation system connected to a ground water source when fertilizers or any other chemicals are applied through the system. The landowner or other responsible parties shall be responsible for assuring that the back-siphon prevention equipment is installed and functions properly. (See Figure 215-1.) The landowner or other responsible parties shall inspect the device at least once per year, prior to the first use of the year, to ensure that the device is installed and functions properly.

(a) The irrigation system shall contain:

(A) An automatic low-pressure drain which shall:

(i) Be installed between the irrigation pump and the irrigation line check valve at the lowest point of the horizontal water supply pipeline;

(ii) Be designed to drain all incidental leakage from the check valve out of the irrigation pipeline before that leakage enters the water supply;

(iii) Be at least 3/4 inch in diameter with a closing pressure of not less than 5 psi;

(iv) Use a corrosion-resistant tube, pipe, or similar conduit to discharge the solution at least 20 feet away and down-slope from the irrigation water source and any other water sources. At the discharge point there shall be an air gap between the discharge pipe and the discharged solution;

(v) Not have any valves located on the outlet side of the drain tube; and

(vi) Have a dam or collection reservoir to prevent the discharged solution from pooling and draining back toward the water source.

(B) An inspection port which shall:

(i) Be located on top of the pipeline between the irrigation pump and the irrigation pipeline check valve, directly overhead of the low-pressure drain;

(ii) Have a minimum diameter opening of four inches from which the check valves and low-pressure drain shall be visible.

(C) An irrigation line check valve which shall:

(i) Consist of at least a single check valve;

(ii) Be located in the pipeline between the irrigation pump and the point of chemical injection into the irrigation pipeline, and downstream from a vacuum relief valve and automatic low-pressure drain;

(iii) Be of heavy-duty construction with all materials resistant to corrosion or protected to resist corrosion;

(iv) Be spring-loaded and provide a watertight seal against reverse flow;

(v) Be labeled with the following information: manufacturer's name and model, working pressure in pounds per square inch (psi), maximum flow rate, and direction of flow;

(vi) Not consist of metal-to-metal seal surfaces; and

(vii) Be designed and rated for pressures expected to be encountered, including those caused by pumping, water hammers, back-pressure, or other sources. Installation shall be according to design and manufacturer's specifications and recommendations.

(D) An air/vacuum relief valve which shall:

(i) Be located on top of the horizontal irrigation pipeline between the irrigation pump and the irrigation line check valve; and

(ii) Have a total (individually or combined) orifice size of at least 3/4-inch diameter for a 4-inch pipe, a 1-inch diameter for a 5- to 8-inch pipe, a 2-inch diameter for 9- to 18-inch pipe, and a 3-inch diameter for a 19-inch and greater pipe.

(E) A chemical injection line check valve which shall:

(i) Be located between the chemical injection pump and the point of chemical injection into the irrigation line;

(ii) Be made of chemical-resistant material;

(iii) Prevent irrigation water under operating pressure from entering the chemical injection line; and

(iv) Prevent leakage from the chemical supply tank on system shutdown.

(F) A system interlock which shall: mechanically or electrically connect the water supply pump and the chemical injection unit for the purpose of automatically shutting down the chemical injection unit in the event of water supply pump shutdown or failure.

(b) If modifications or changes in design, technology, irrigation practices, or other reasons warrant the use or placement of equipment in lieu of that specified herein, the Director may allow for such changes. Requests for modifications shall be in writing, detailing the existing system and uses, and shall include specifications on the proposed changes. The modification shall provide protection to the ground water resource that is equal to or greater than that provided by the equipment required in this regulation;

(c) These regulations are in addition to equipment requirements for pesticide application under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, and are not intended to replace those regulations;

(d) Irrigation systems that are subject to OAR 690-215-0017(3) and are connected to a public water system, shall meet the cross-connection control requirements in OAR chapter 333;

(e) Whenever the Director deems it appropriate, the Department may investigate alleged violation of statutes, standards or rules governing back-siphon prevention devices to determine whether a violation has occurred. Violations of OAR 690-215-0017 may be administered under ORS 536.900(1)(c), 537.990(3), or OAR chapter 690, division 260, as appropriate to gain compliance.

[ED. NOTE: Figure referenced in this rule are available from the agency.]

Valves and casing on all artesian wells shall be maintained in a condition so that the flow of water can be completely stopped when the water is not being put to beneficial use. All casing, liner pipe, and casing seals shall be maintained in a condition that will prevent surface or subsurface leakage of ground water. Valves shall be closed when water is not being put to beneficial use. During periods of subfreezing temperatures, a valve may be partially opened to prevent damage due to freezing.

The sealing area around pitless adapter or pitless unit installations shall be replaced with unhydrated bentonite as required by OAR 690-210-0330 and shall be at least one and one-half inches thick around the casing and pitless device.

(1) All well casing used to extend a well head above land surface or used in the alteration, repair or deepening of water supply wells shall meet the minimum standards in OAR 690-210.

(2) The annular space surrounding the well casing used to extend the well head shall be sealed as required by OAR 690-210 and shall be at least four inches greater than the nominal inside diameter of the permanent well casing.

NOTE: Prior to extending the casing on public, community, municipal, or public utility water supply wells, contact the Department of Human Services. Additional requirements may apply.

(1) If during the installation of casing, liner pipe, seals, packers, or during repair or deepening of a water supply well, the pre-existing casing is withdrawn, or moved as to compromise the annular seal, the well shall be cased and sealed in accordance with the rules set forth in OAR 690-210.

(2) If the annular seal is not compromised when cleaning out a water supply well or installing liner pipe, the water supply well shall not require re-casing or re-sealing.

(1) Only the following wells may be deepened
without an approved special standard:

(a) Wells with well reports
that describe the original construction. The original well report must be:

(A) Referenced on the deepening
well report; or

(B) Attached to the deepening
well report.

(b) Wells that are recased and
resealed to meet the current minimum well construction standards.

(2) The static water level shall
be measured prior to and after deepening any well. Both readings shall be recorded
on the well log.

(3) If the deepening of an existing
well results in access to a new aquifer then prior to completion of deepening work
all previous aquifers, including previous aquifers that have gone dry or are low-producing,
shall be cased and sealed off using the methods described in OAR 690-210.

(4) The deepening of a water
supply well shall not result in the commingling of aquifers.

All water supply wells shall be securely covered to prevent any foreign substance from entering the well, including any material which might contaminate the ground water. The well cover shall meet the requirements of OAR 690-220-0005.

The well identification label shall not
be removed from the wellhead and shall be maintained by the landowner in an accessible
location and in a readable condition. See OAR 690-200-0048 for well identification
label placement methods and instructions.

(1) All water supply wells, including wells
that have been temporarily removed from service, temporarily abandoned due to a
recess in construction, or temporarily abandoned before commencing service, shall
be properly covered and shall be equipped with a usable access port with a minimum
diameter of 1/2-inch for the purpose of determining the water level in the well
at any time.

(2) Dedicated measuring tubes
are recommended to be installed on all water supply wells at the time of pump installation,
pump repair, or pump replacement. Where required, dedicated measuring tubes shall
be a minimum of 3/4-inch diameter schedule 40 PVC extending to the top of the pump.
The 3/4-inch diameter dedicated measuring tube may be reduced in size to 1/2-inch
where it goes through the watertight well cap, but shall not be reduced in size
over the length of the pipe. Dedicated measuring tubes shall be vented above and
below the well cap and shall be attached to the pump column at 10 foot intervals
with 10 mil plastic tape. The lower five feet of the dedicated measuring tube shall
be either 0.020 inch machine slotted well screen or the lower 20 feet of the dedicated
measuring tube shall be extensively perforated with 1/8 inch holes. Dedicated measuring
tubes shall be plugged or capped at the bottom (See Figure 200-5) and shall remain
free from wire or other obstruction.

(3) An airline is not a substitute
for a required dedicated measuring tube and, if installed, must enter the well in
a location other than the access port.

(4) Access ports, dedicated
measuring tubes or airlines on all water supply wells shall be capped and a minimum
of twelve inches above finished ground surface or pumphouse floor. If the well has
a pitless adaptor then the dedicated measuring tube shall terminate within six inches
of the top of the well casing.

(5) Access ports, airlines and
dedicated measuring tubes on all water supply wells shall be maintained by the landowner
in a condition that will prevent contamination of the groundwater resource.

The Director may require the landowner to install totalizing flowmeters or dedicated measuring tubes on any water supply well, either as a condition of a water right permit or at a later date as circumstances may warrant. The landowner may be required to install totalizing flowmeters or dedicated measuring tubes on existing permitted wells and on wells which are exempted by ORS 537.545.

The official copy of an Oregon Administrative Rule is
contained in the Administrative Order filed at the Archives Division,
800 Summer St. NE, Salem, Oregon 97310. Any discrepancies with the
published version are satisfied in favor of the Administrative Order.
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